Coast Guard rescues 3 children missing since August, father accused of kidnapping apprehended

Mar 27th, 2012 · Comments Off on Coast Guard rescues 3 children missing since August, father accused of kidnapping apprehended

MIAMI — The Coast Guard rescued three children missing since August aboard their father’s sailing vessel approximately 30 miles east of Pompano Beach, Fla., Tuesday afternoon.

The crew of the 110-foot Coast Guard Cutter Okracoke, along with a boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale, Fla., intercepted the vessel, which was spotted by a Customs and Border Protection aircrew.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website, the three missing children are: Megan Bryant, 14; Maxwell Bryant, 13; and Sebastian Bryant, 11.

The missing children’s father, James Bryant, 44, has been wanted on a felony warrant for three counts of parenting interference after failing to return the children to their mother in Montana on Aug. 17, according to court documents.

The Coast Guard will turn Bryant over to the Broward Sheriff’s Office for further extradition to authorities in Montana.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is also working with Child Protective Services to reunite the children with their mother.

Also located aboard the sailing vessel was a dog, a cat, a snake, and a lizard. The Coast Guard is working with the Humane Society regarding the animals.

“This case highlights the successful partnership between the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and local law enforcement, especially Broward County Sheriff’s Office,” said Capt. Chris Scraba, commander, Coast Guard Sector Miami. “Through our joint efforts, a suspected kidnapper has been apprehended without incident, and a mother will have her three children safely returned to her unharmed.”